A valley that for centuries has been a border area, and therefore a mandatory passage for communication between the North and South, between the Teutonic and Mediterranean regions, between the empire and the papacy... a past that has left its indelible marks on the landscape we see today. This is the charm of the Rotaliana Plain: the presence of a not-too-distant past, which simply needs to be rediscovered.

FROM THE MESOLITHIC TO THE BRONZE AGE

The first human settlements in the Rotaliana Plain date back to the Mesolithic period, with finds in Mezzocorona, including the burial of the "Grandmother of Mezzocorona." This female burial, dated to the 7th millennium BC, features a funerary structure similar to that of Vatte di Zambana, with a stone mound covering the grave. A cast of the skeleton is displayed at Palazzo della Vicinia. The Copper and Bronze Ages left numerous traces in the Rotaliana Plain, thanks to its strategic position. The finds, mainly funerary, are concentrated in the sites of Dos de la Forca, Mezzocorona Borgonuovo, and Nogarole di Mezzolombardo. Notable is also the bronze sword found in the Noce River, probably a votive offering. The territory of Rotaliana thus offers a glimpse into the life of communities during the Copper, Bronze, and Iron Ages, ranging from funerary and religious aspects to settlement and productive ones.

ROMAN ERA AND VIA CLAUDIA AUGUSTA

In Roman times, the Rotaliana Plain was crossed by the Via Claudia Augusta, a road of crucial importance for the empire, linking the Adriatic to Germany. Its route followed the left bank of the Adige River, and at Nave San Felice, the river could be crossed by ferry, guarded by a Roman watchtower. The subsequent path towards Mezzocorona is less defined, but remains of a paved road have been found near the Giontech site. The Via Claudia became essential for the transit of goods, people, and ideas, as well as for the legions. Numerous Roman archaeological remains have been discovered in the Rotaliana Plain, particularly at the Giontech and Drei Canè sites in Mezzocorona.

THE MIDDLE AGES

During the Middle Ages, the Rotaliana Plain was subject to various dominations, from the Goths to the Lombards, who established a duchy in Trento, and later to the Franks, whose raids culminated in one in 577 in the "Rotaliani field." Subsequently, in 952, the Trentino region became part of Bavaria and the Germanic kingdom, later falling under the Episcopal Principality of Trento around the year 1000, lasting until 1803. In the late 13th century, the occupation of episcopal territories by Mainardo II of Tyrol led to the creation of the Tyrolean jurisdictions of Mezzocorona and Königsberg-Montereale, while Mezzolombardo remained tied to Trento. This political division, which lasted for centuries, created significant differences between the two centers. Religiously, Rotaliana was divided between the parishes of Mezzocorona and Giovo, with churches that had complete functions, unlike local chapels. Over time, there was a gradual evolution towards the current parishes. The Germanic colonization of the Lower Middle Ages is evidenced by the distribution of farmhouses in Faedo, Nave San Rocco, Pressano, and Sorni, and by the presence of castles such as Castel San Gottardo and Castel Königsberg, which controlled the north-south communication routes.

THE MODERN ERA: THE 1500s AND 1600s

In the 1500s, the Rotaliana Plain saw economic and cultural development thanks to families such as the Firmian, Spaur, and Thun, and hosted personalities like Emperor Maximilian I. During the same period, the "rustic war" involved the working classes, especially in Mezzocorona and Mezzolombardo. After the Thirty Years' War, religious congregations, particularly the Franciscans and Augustinians, helped the area recover, with the reconstruction of the church at the monastery of San Michele all'Adige. Between the 1600s and 1700s, there was a building boom in various towns, with the renovation of buildings and interior decorations, as at Palazzo Firmian, where Paul Troger worked. In the 1700s, the Napoleonic wars saw local Schützen defending the territory, with clashes in Lavis and Faedo. By the end of the century, military upheavals caused frequent changes in domination, and the Episcopal Principality of Trento came to an end in 1803.

THE 1800s AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT

The revolt of 1809 brought Andreas Hofer to prominence, with his headquarters located in Mezzocorona and Mezzolombardo. Later, in 1815, the region passed from the Principality of Trento to the Austrian Empire, remaining part of it until 1919. In the mid-1800s, significant hydraulic engineering works, such as the diversion of the Noce River and the straightening of the Adige River, radically transformed the landscape of the Rotaliana Plain. At the same time, the rise of trade made Mezzolombardo an important commercial center, as shown by the buildings in its town center. The economy of the Rotaliana Plain thrived thanks to sericulture, with numerous silkworm farms scattered across the territory, becoming the predominant economic activity. When this cultivation went into crisis, Don Giuseppe Grazioli saved it by introducing healthy silkworms in Trentino, thus preserving the local economy. However, the expansion of viticulture, along with other factors, led to the decline of the silk industry. A significant boost to viticulture came with the founding of the San Michele all'Adige Agricultural Institute in 1874, led by agronomist Edmund Mach, with the goal of improving Trentino agriculture. By the early 20th century, Teroldego became the signature grape of the Rotaliana Plain. Finally, in 1859, the construction of the Brenner Railway profoundly changed the life of the Rotaliana Plain, transforming it from a stopover point to a transit zone.

THE 1900s

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the Rotaliana Plain, like the rest of Trentino, saw significant development in cooperative activities, with the birth of rural banks, cooperative families, and wineries. Infrastructure was strengthened, with the construction of the narrow-gauge railway and the Trento-Malè tram. World War I led to the militarization of the area and the internment of suspected irredentists. The Italian invasion of 1915 and annexation in 1920 marked a period of reconstruction and recovery, complicated by phylloxera that had affected the vineyards. During fascism, there was an administrative reorganization of the municipalities, with San Michele all'Adige absorbing Grumo and Faedo, and Zambana uniting Fai della Paganella and Nave San Rocco. In the 1930s, important land reclamation works were carried out in Nave San Rocco. World War II brought bombings to the infrastructure. After the war, the economy and well-being of the area grew steadily, especially in the wine and industrial sectors.